Shoe.



G. B. FOX.

SHOE.

APPLICATION man JULY 18. 1916.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.

. -Ti E I a I E I, l /4 lllllll ATTORNEY GEORGE 1?. FOX, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE.

Application filed July 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to securing means which are especially adapted for use on shoes or other foot covering to eliminate the use of a lace or button in order to hold the shoe on the foot, at the same time providing an eflicient means to prevent displacement of the shoe and insuring a snug fit of the latter at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe securer which may be conveniently annexed to the shoe without much ad ditional expense, and which will permit the use of a shoe that can be conveniently engaged and disengaged by stout people or by other persons who cannot conveniently stoop to engage or disengage their foot covering, or persons whose occupation makes it of prime importance to hasten dressing, such as firemen, etc.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a shoe embodying my invention, and looking at the other side of the shoe from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved clasp. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary view of a shoe illustrating the application of my improved clasp, the shoe upper bemg shown in a flexed position in order to disclose the position taken by the securing member when the shoe is being engaged with or disengaged from the foot.

In the drawings, a shoe 1 is provided which is equipped with a closed upper, the latter being provided in its opposite sides with flexible inserts 2, the latter being preferably made of a soft leather and being so associated with the uppers, as to be com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Serial No. 109,939.

pletely housed within the latter when the uppers are snugly engaged with the ankle of the wearer of the shoe, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

My improved securing means in this instance comprises an unyieldable strap 3 having a terminal 4 in one end, the opposite end being reversely folded upon itself to provide a loop 5 which is engaged with the terminal convolution of an elastic element 6. The elastic element in this instance comprises a coil spring, the convolutions of which are obliquely disposed, and are normally snugly engaged, as shown to advantage in Fig. 4, in order to permit expansion of the same under pressure. The opposite terminal convolution of the elastic element is engaged with the bill of a hook 7 said hook being formed by arcuating one terminal of a locking plate 8. The locking plate 8 is provided with a key-way 9 therein which is adapted to engage the neck of a stud plate 10, the margins of the latter having portions thereof extended to provide prongs 11 which are adapted to lie at right angles to the body of the plate and are to be clenched into engagement with the shoe upper, as shown to advantage in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the head 12 of the stud plate 10 is of such a size as to be conveniently passed through the enlarged end of the key-way 9, the neck of said plate conveniently fitting the restricted end of the key-way, thereby preventing casual displacement of the securing means and at the same time providing a means which may be expeditiously engaged and disengaged.

As shown in Fig. 4c the opening 1 in the strap 3 is adapted to receive a bifurcated rivet 13, the branches of the bifurcation being engaged with the shoe upper on the inner face of the latter to prevent displacement of the same,thereby providing a standard type of securing means, which is readily accessible to engage the clasp with any type of shoe. Upon reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, it will likewise be apparent that movement of the securing means in a vertical plane will be prohibited in view of the fact that a portion of the shoe loop 14 at the back of the shoe is extended so as to provide a loop 15 which is arched over the clasp, this, of course, in no way interfering with the effectual operation of the securing means.

lower marginal edges of the trouser legs will normally house the same from view, as indicated by the dotted lines.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claim without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

I claim The combination with a shoe having folded inserts in the opposite sides of its Copies of this patent may be obtained for uppers, of means to normally hold the upper V of said shoe in snug engagement with the foot of the wearer, including an unyieldable strap, one end of which is fixedly engaged with the shoe in proximity to one of the folded inserts, said strap extending across the insert, an elastic element engaged with the opposite end of said strap and adapted to extend from said strap around the rear of the shoe, a plate having an opening therein engaged with said elastic element and adapted to extend across the opposite folded 7 insert and a studcarried by said upper and adapted for cooperation with said plate to hold the latter from movement;

r In testimony whereof I alfix my signature five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. V 

